Chrysler and Jeep Diesels

Duane Watters wrote: “In the early 1970s Chrysler used a Isuzu diesel in the the truck line. It was rare and I have only seen one, it was in a 1974 W100 shortbox truck.” We were unable to verify this, but did find a Mitsubishi diesel used in 1978 (and possibly later) D150s, D250s, and Power Wagons. This was the Mitsubishi 6DR5, 3950 cc, with 105 hp at 3500 rpm; it was reportedly virtually identical to the Land Cruiser diesel engine of the time; it was a factory option. A Mitsu diesel, probably the same one, was also custom-fitted into a few pre-1978 Dodge trucks as a publicity tool.

Cummins engines didn’t get into Dodge Rams until 1989 (see the Ram history page).

1999-2001 Chrysler and Jeep diesel engines

Chrysler brought out several new diesel engines for export markets starting in 1999. The 2.5 was for minivans and Jeeps, the 1.9 was for cars, and the 3.1 was for Jeeps. The 1.9 and 2.5 liter engines were direct-injected four-valve turbodiesels, released in 2001 and 1999, respectively. The 3.1 liter turbo Diesel had five cylinders. All are being designed to have better gas mileage, performance, and noise, vibration, and harshness levels while meeting Stage III emissions rules. They all had:

• Common Rail Fuel Control (CR) with a high-pressure pump to achieve high injection pressures - 1,500 bar, yielding better spray atomization and fuel mixing for more efficient combustion. CR maintained these pressures throughout the engine's full speed range.
• Pilot injection is a fuel spray which precedes the main spray to initiate combustion, made possible because of the precise electronic control CR makes available at each injector; it greatly reduces noise.
• Four valve direct injection brought 15% better fuel efficiency than indirect injection, and optimum positioning of the fuel injector for improved combustion characteristics. Direct injection is most efficient when the injector is centrally located, which is not possible in a two-valves-per-cylinder engine, where the injector location must be offset.
• Cooled EGR (optional) enhances the emission-controlling benefits of conventional EGR systems.
• Swirl Control (optional) at the cylinder head intake matches the air motion in the combustion chamber with the needs of the engine, without sacrificing the amount of flow. It is achieved by designing one port tangentially for maximum flow while the other is designed to induce swirl, or turbulence, to air entering the combustion chamber based on engine load and speed.

The actual engines were:

• The 3.1 litre turbo-diesel on the 1999 Grand Cherokee was developed in conjunction with Detroit Diesel/VM Motori. It has an electronic injection pump, electronically-controlled, vacuum-actuated exhaust gas recirculation, and a special catalyst to control oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
• The 1.9 liter was developed by both Detroit Diesel and FEV Engine Technology. Volume production began in June 1999 for cars. It met EURO IV levels, thanks to centrally located fuel injectors, direct injection, four valves per cylinder, common rail fuel injection; electronic EGR; turbocharging, and a special catalyst to control oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
• The 2.5 liter diesel replaced the existing 2.5 litre diesel in the Voyager, Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee. It featured balance shafts for reduced vibration, as did the gas-powered 2.5 and 2.4 liter four-cylinder Mopar engines. It was developed by VM Motori of Italy. Gas mileage was expected to be 15% better than the older 2.5 Diesel, with more power. Contributing to this are a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) for quick response at lower speeds, a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for enhanced emissions reductions, and swirl control for cleaner, more efficient combustion.

	1.8 Liter Detroit Diesel / FEV	2.5 Liter Detroit Diesel / VM Motori	3.1 Liter Detroit Diesel / VM Motori
Manufactured:	Saltillo, Mexico	Cento, Italy	Cento, Italy
Projected Volume:	25,000 - 30,000 a year	20,000 a year	13,000 a year
Mileage:	5.3 l/100km (small cars); 5.7 litres/100km (mid-sized)	15% more than older 2.5-litre diesel, with 10% increase in power	30% better than the gasoline engine it replaces
Displacement:	1,896cc	2,499cc	3,124cc
Power:	86 kW/115 bhp w/intercooler, 67 kW/90 bhp w/o intercooler; 230 N-m/170 lb-ft w/intercooler, 179 N-m/132 lb-ft w/o intercooler	104 kW/140 bhp; 320N-m/236 lb-ft	104 Kw/140 bhp; 367 Nm/271 lb-ft
Transmission:	Five speed manual only	Five speed manual only	Four speed electronically controlled automatic

2006 Chrysler and Jeep diesel engines in Europe (from Chrysler releases provided by Doug Hetrick)

The Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander, and Chrysler 300C have an optional new 3-liter Mercedes common-rail V6 diesel, with 2,000+ bar Bosch fuel injection, a variable geometry turbocharger, and four valves per cylinder; it meets Euro 4 standards without a particulate filter (though one is provided on the 300C). Maximum power is 160 kW (218 hp DIN) and peak torque is 510 N.m (376 lb.-ft.) from just 1800 rpm. The engine is mated to a Mercedes W5A580 automatic transmission, and weighs 208 kg / 459 lb. Fuel consumption with the 300C is 8.1 L/100 km, EU standard for sedan (8.3 for touring).

The PT Cruiser also gets a variable geometry turbo, measuring 2.2 liters, now generating 110 kW (150 hp) with the same gas mileage as the previous, less powerful unit (6.7 L/100 km, combined cycle). Maximum torque of 300 Nm (221 lb.-ft) is produced from 1600 rpm to 3000 rpm. Matched to a five-speed manual transmission, this engine reduces the 0-to-100 km/h acceleration time from 12.1 seconds in the previous model to 10.8 seconds (estimated). The engine is an advanced common-rail design, which is Euro 4 compliant for exhaust emissions. It is also a refined power unit with reduced high-frequency combustion noise compared with the previous diesel engine.

Horsepower ratings may vary from country to country and year to year. Lars noted that the 2005 2.5 VM engine is also sold with 120 hp (“negative chip tuning”).

1987-2005 Chrysler and Jeep diesel engines (thanks, Doug Hetrick)

Years	Model	Engine	Trans.	HP (kW)	lb-ft (Nm)	C/R	mpg city / hway/ combined	Top Speed / 0-60
2003-2005	PT Cruiser	Mercedes 2.2	5-speed	121 (84)	221 (300)	18:1	26 / 42 / 34	114 mph / 12.1 sec
2003-2005	Voyager	VM Motori 2.5*	5-speed	143 (105)	251		28.5 / 44 / 37	115 / 11.9
2005	Voyager	VM Motori 2.8	4-speed auto	150	265	17.5:1	25 / 33 / 29	112 / 12.0
2005	Grand Voyager	VM Motori 2.8	4 speed auto	150	265	17.5:1	25 / 32 / 29	112 / 12.0
1987-1993	Cherokee	Renault 2.1		85	115		26 / 32 / na
1992-2001	Voyager	VM 2.5*	5 speed	115	221 (300)
1994-2001	Cherokee / GC	VM 2.5	5 speed	115	221 (300)
2003-2005	Cherokee Sport	VM 2.5	5 speed	141	251	17.5:1	24 / 38 / 31	na / 13.5
2004-05	Cherokee 4x4	VM 2.8 VGT	5 speed auto	148	266	17.5:1	22/34/28.5	na / 12.6
2002-04	Grand Cherokee	MB 2.7 I-5	5 speed auto	161	295	18:1	23/35/29	na / 11.2
1999-2001	Jeeps	DD/VM 3.1	4 speed auto	140 (104)	271 (367)		11,7 l/100km	170 km/h
1978-?	Dodge trucks	Mitsubishi 3.9	A-727 auto	105	170?		20+ highway?

* 1992-1995 in Model ES with timing gears; 1996 in Model GS with chains (Doug said 1997-1998 had chains, Kim Pederson said these had gears); 1999-2000 in Model GS with timing gears. “The gear model started around Sept 1997. The only way to see which model is to look at the injection pump. The chain model has Bosch 0 460 404 975 while the gear model has Bosch 0 460 404 963.

 

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